May 27, 2026 | By The Active Age
Kansas author Cynthia Mines ventures into new territory this month. Mines, founder of the Wichita Times and Travel Kansas magazine, is releasing her first novel, “Heaven in a Wildflower.” It’ll debut June 20 during the Midsummer’s Festival in Lindsborg, which not incidentally is the prototype for the Swedish-settled, central Kansas town at the center of […]
| By The Active Age
Caregivers should get as much help as possible when it comes to caring for people with dementia — and not ignore their own feelings of loss. That’s the message Stacy Gladfelter planned to deliver during the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America educational conference in Wichita last month. “One of the biggest things I talk about is […]
| By The Active Age
Retired teacher appointed to school board Sheila Brown-Kinnard has been appointed to fill the at-large position on the Wichita Board of Education made vacant by the death of Melody McCray-Miller this spring. Brown-Kinnard taught drama at Mayberry Cultural and Fine Arts Magnet Middle School before retiring in 2020. She’s the daughter of Jo Brown, the […]
| By The Active Age
Lynn Salvo’s friends in Wichita’s biking community are looking forward to her return visit here. Salvo is a long-distance cyclist who’s set several Guinness World Records while promoting peace. Over six years, for instance, she pedaled 14,500 miles to trace a gigantic peace sign across North America, with Wichita serving as the hub where the […]
| By The Active Age
Steve Castaneda was the winner of The Active Age’s drawing for a diamond necklace, but he didn’t keep it for long. Castaneda immediately presented it to his girlfriend, Karry Jacobson, shown with Steve at right. The Active Age thanks Mike Seltzer of Mike Seltzer Jewelers for donating the necklace, and also all the readers who […]
| By Starla Criser
Seniors on the Go will hold its regular monthly meeting at 1: 30 p.m. Wednesday, July 1 at Linwood Senior Center. Events list in bold are activities that SOTG members plan to attend. SENIOR DAYS/COFFEE CONNECTIONS Jul 1 – We 10:30 am – Senior Wednesday: @ Wichita Art Museum – $2 1:30 pm – Senior […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
Americans’ fascination with the Old West continues to this day. Test your knowledge of this historic period by answering these questions. The answers appear at right. 1. Who rallied his troops using the war-cry, “Remember the Alamo” when he caught Santa Anna’s army? 2. What American Indian warrior is memorialized on a mountainside in the […]
| By Diana Morton
Act 1 Players, 206 S. Main, El Dorado, Burritos from Amarillo by Larry Johnson. Several couples from different backgrounds experience a hilarious turn of events when stranded in a New Mexico motel during a snowstorm. Doors open at 6 pm; dinner is served at 6:15 pm; the play begins at 7 pm. Dinner and play […]
| By Jim Miller
The Letter Your Loved Ones Will Treasure Dear Savvy Senior, I want to leave something meaningful for my children and grandchildren, beyond just money or property. I’ve heard about “legacy letters,” but I don’t really know what they are or how to start one. Can you help? […]
April 29, 2026 | By Joe Stumpe
ANDOVER — A real estate development that’s changing the face of Andover might not have happened if Mike Lies hadn’t taken the long view. The retired periodontist didn’t get discouraged when his first attempts to buy some well-positioned agricultural property on the city’s east side failed two decades ago. He was patient […]
| By Amy Geiszler-Jones
DERBY — One of the area’s most active senior centers is likely to become even more so now that it’s moved into a new $7.3 million, 13,750-square-foot home. That’s the consensus of those who’ve checked out the Derby Senior Center, which opened April 20 at 1315 S. Rock Road. “This is a premier senior center […]
| By Joe Stumpe
For an organization called Wichita Community Gardens, Inc., community seems just as important as the thriving garden they’ve created in Riverside. Yes, the tomatoes, peppers, lettuces, cucumbers, fresh herbs and more are a mouth-watering sight along Amidon Avenue during the growing season. Not to mention the beautiful flowers. But the group has a handful of […]
| By Joe Norris
In 1917, a young Kansas couple found themselves on a South Sea island 7,000 miles from home, surrounded by cannibals. Martin and Osa Johnson had been taken prisoner by a tribe called the Big Nambas. The natives gathered in a tight circle around the strangers, staring intently at them. Martin and Osa feared that by […]
| By Ted Ayres
“In True Face: A Woman’s Life in the CIA, Unmasked,” by Jonna Mendez with Wyndham Wood (Public Affairs, 2024, 295 pages, $30.00) Jonna Hiestand graduated from high school in Wichita and attended Wichita State University, majoring in English literature. She spent most of her childhood in a large house on 20 acres that butted up […]
| By Beth Bower
“What do you get when you drop a piano down a mine shaft?” Jerry Gillespie asks. “What?” you say. “A-flat miner,” he responds. If you don’t laugh, that’s okay. Gillespie will just tell you another joke. He has at least one for every occasion: get-togethers of retired U.S. Air Force pilots, church meetings, vacation lunches […]
| By The Active Age
Donna Rae Pearson feels like she’s just scratched the surface of a topic that doesn’t get much attention: the history of black leisure in Wichita. “Yes, we enjoy recreation and leisure activities,” said Pearson, a Wichita native and museum curator at the Kansas Historical Society in Topeka. “That’s not what you ordinarily hear about when […]
| By The Active Age
Vedrana Barbir’s trips to Croatia follow a tasty theme. “When we go back home, all we do is eat,” she said. There’s time for family and friends, of course, but it’s easy to see why food plays such a prominent role. For one thing, Barbir worked as a chef in Croatia and still has friends […]
| By The Active Age
The Active Age won several awards in the 2026 Kansas Press Association contest for work done last year. The Active Age 55+ Resource Guide won first place for special advertising sections. The guide, which contains information about hundreds of businesses, nonprofits and other organizations that serve seniors, is distributed throughout the year through senior centers, […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
World Heritage Sites are cultural and natural landmarks designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as among the most important for preserving around the globe. See if you can use these clues to identify 15 of the best-known ones. The answers appear on page 20. 1. What massive structure stretches thousands of […]
| By The Active Age
Rosie was riveting until the end. Real-life Rosie the Riveter Connie Palacioz died April 19 at age 101. During World War II, Palacioz worked for The Boeing Company on a production line for the B-29 Superfortress. Decades later, she helped drum up support for the restoration of the B-29 known as “Doc” that now serves […]
| By The Active Age
More than 175 members of the Wichita Area P.E.O. attended its annual Spring Social last month. In addition to awarding scholarships to nine high school and college students, the group recognized nine members who’ve been members for 50 years: Penny Moss, Mary Ruth Byerley, Barbara McClellan, Jane Spurrier, Celinda Graham, Sarah Hastings, Susan Holmgren, Emily […]
| By Starla Criser
Seniors on the Go holds its monthly organizational meeting at Linwood Senior Center at 1:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. Highlighted events are ones that SOTG members have expressed special interest in attending. SENIOR DAYS/COFFEE CONNECTIONS May 4 Mo 9 am – Coffee Connection: Amphibians and @ Sedgwick County Zoo – Free […]
| By Diana Morton
The American Theatre Guild, Broadway in Wichita, Century II, Clue, Live on Stage! Murder, blackmail and humor are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget. Based on the 1985 movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game. May 15-17. Call for times and tickets, […]
| By The Active Age
Memorial and Celebration announcements can be emailed, sent by regular mail or delivered by hand. The email address is tammara@ theactiveage.com, and we are located at 125 S. West St., Suite 105, Wichita, KS, 67213. Information should be submitted on or before the 15th of the month preceding publication. The Active Age is published on […]
March 30, 2026 | By Joe Stumpe
PARK CITY — If there’s such a thing as senior center envy, the new one here is likely to induce it. The $5.7 million, 13,000-square-feet Park City Senior Center opened in late February at 1811 Stuart Dr., near the intersection of 61st and Hydraulic. It’s about three times larger than the city’s previous senior center, […]